The Shaw Mind Foundation welcomes the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment to ensuring that “Every child will learn about mental wellbeing and the mental health risks of internet harms in the curriculum”. This is excellent news, and is a result of The Shaw Mind Foundation’s campaigning efforts, and our policy submission to the Conservative’s manifesto team.

About us – An unprecedented breed of charity

The Shaw Mind Foundation is an unprecedented breed of charity, with a direct and hands-on approach. The charity consists of highly accredited mental health experts, ex-sufferers, trustees and patrons who volunteer their time and expertise, without remuneration.

We are absolutely devoted to supporting mental health sufferers and their families, and our meaningful philanthropic approach brings positive, lasting change to people’s lives. For this reason, you can take pleasure in knowing that every penny of your donation goes towards ensuring that people who need help the most, receive it.

We have one simple but powerful pledge: to fight and redress mental health injustices. We give our support to children and adults – whether they are sufferers or the loved ones of sufferers – who feel that they have lost hope. We are resolute in ensuring that our children and the next generation will not be failed over mental health. Please support the work we do.

Our chairman Adam Shaw, his Board of Trustees and all the amazing volunteers who support The Shaw Mind Foundation receive no remuneration; all proceeds and donations go towards our projects for the mental health community. We are a global charity that cares, and are fully focused on helping those suffering with mental illness and the children, adults and families who are in desperate need of our support.

We stand alongside those currently experiencing mental health issues, and are proud to act as an advocate for those that feel as though they have lost hope. We tackle the stigma and misconceptions that can come with mental health issues.

We want to ensure treatment and support is made available to everyone across the globe. Working in the USA, UK and in other countries around the world, our awareness-raising programme challenges many of the myths and assumptions about mental health issues.

The Shaw Mind Foundation is also totally committed to supporting sufferers in developing countries and socially deprived areas around the globe. We believe that absolutely every single penny donated can make a huge difference to those who are affected by mental health issues around the world.

We believe recovery is possible for many who are currently not getting the help they need. This is where The Shaw Mind Foundation makes a difference; we don’t want people to continue to slip through the net because they have to wait for care, don’t have funds to access life-saving treatment, or live in an area or country that can’t currently access mental health recovery programmes.

It is our aspiration to ensure that treatment and recovery from mental health problems is made available to all, regardless of location, financial situation or the nature of their illness. Mental health doesn’t discriminate; neither should geography or financial status.

The founders

Adam Shaw is a world wide mental health advocate, philanthropist and author. Adam lives in the UK and the US, and is married with 6 children. Now in recovery from mental health issues himself, he is committed to helping others suffering from debilitating mental health issues through The Shaw Mind Foundation.

“As a society, we are all collectively responsible and accountable for mental health issues. By not engaging in conversation, we are giving mental illness more power than it deserves. By simply talking to, and being open with, our children, family, friends and colleagues, we can begin the process of recovery from mental health issues without even consciously trying. Talking about and sharing our mental health issues is a fundamental and natural platform, through which recovery begins and mental health well-being is sustained.” Adam Shaw

Dr Lauren Callaghan (CPsychol, PGDipClinPsych, PgCert, MA (hons), LLB (hons), BA), born and educated in New Zealand, is an innovative industry leading psychologist based in London.

Lauren was a psychologist at the specialist national treatment centres for severe obsessional problems in the UK and is renowned as an expert in the field of mental health, recognised for diagnosing and successfully treating OCD and anxiety related illnesses.

In addition to appearing as a treating clinician in the critically acclaimed and BAFTA award-winning documentary Bedlam, Lauren is a frequent guest speaker on mental health conditions in the media and at academic conferences. Lauren also acts as a guest lecturer and honorary researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry Kings College, UCL.

Dr James Espey OBE (B.Com, MBA, PhD) is an international businessman and brand builder with over 50 years’ global experience. He is also an author and business consultancy mentor who believes strongly in supporting the next generation. He has personally suffered from two breakdowns. As a result, is passionate about helping other sufferers with mental health problems, and working to encourage society to recognise and deal with the issues arising from mental health issues. As a founding member of The Shaw Mind Foundation, as well as a Patron and Trustee, James draws on his experience to help provide the Foundation with a clear strategic direction. In 2013 he was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty The Queen for services to the global Scotch whisky industry.

Vaughan Collins is a very successful retired engineer and ex-business owner. Since the sale of his business he has become an active angel investor helping several cutting edge, high technology, UK businesses grow and bring their products to market.

As a recovered depression sufferer he is also passionate about helping others suffering with mental health issues to overcome their illnesses and lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.

Our mission statement

“We aim to bring to an end the suffering and despair caused by mental health issues. Our goal is to make help and support available for every single person in society, from all walks of life. We will never stop offering hope. These are our promises.”